School for Champions| Physical Science| Experiments| Senses| Good Grades|Search site Explanation of how an AC transformer works. Also refer to physics, Alternating Current, DC, direct current, magnetism, voltage, electromagnet, house current, high voltages, School for Champions, Kurtus echnologies, !ilwaukee, "isconsin. Copyright #estrictions AC Transformers $y #on Kurtus %&' !arch ())&* A ma+or advantage of alternating current or AC electricity over direct current %DC* is the fact that the potential energy can $e changed from one voltage to another through the use of a transformer. his device not only changes high voltages to house current, $ut it also is used to change the voltage from house current to that used $y low voltage items, such as minitape recorders. -uestions you may have a$out AC transformer are• /ow does the transformer work0 • "hat are the principles of electricity and magnetism involved0 • "hat are some uses of transformers0 his lesson will an swer those 1uestion s and explain the concepts concern ing alternating current electricity. here is a mini1ui2is at the end of this lesson. Basic principles A transformer com$ines several ma+or characteristics of electricity and magnetism to allow the changing of AC voltages. 3irst of all, you need to know the principles for creating an electromagnet and creating electricity. Creating an electromagnetA wire with DC electric current flowing through it has a magnetic field around it. his can $e demonstrated $y placing a compass near a wire and o$serving the needle move when the DC current is turned on. 4y wrapping the wire around a piece of iron, the magnetic field is increased many times due to the realignment of the iron atomseach which acts as a tiny magnet. he iron core and wire wrapping is called an electromagnet. Relation to voltage he greater the current through the wire %or the higher the voltage* the greater the strength of the electromagnet. he strength is approximately proportional to the voltage used. Dou$le the voltage and you dou$le the strength of the electromagnet. Relation to turns of ire
